The Florida Self Storage Association (FSSA) will host an “Information Highway” event on Feb. 22 at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee, Fla. It’ll take the place of the organization’s annual conference and expo, as the national Self Storage Association will be holding its spring conference in Orlando, Fla., March 14-16, according to a press release.

Open to self-storage owners, managers, operators, investors and vendors, the Feb. 22 event will address education on industry operation and technology, including two keynote presentations, breakout sessions and networking. The morning keynote, “Why the ‘Golden Rule’ Is Bad for Business,” will be presented by Robert A. Chiti, president of OpenTech Alliance Inc. The afternoon keynote, “How Google Is Affecting the Self-Storage Industry,” will be given by Ken Hendrickson, co-founder of Easy Storage Solutions.

The manager-focused breakout sessions will include “Let’s Go Beyond the Basics and Get Better,” presented by Anne Ballard, president of training, marketing and developmental services for Universal Storage Group; and “5 Ways to Cut Costs Using Mobile Technology,” by Oliva Austin, a sales executive with SiteLink.

The owner breakout sessions will include “Buying and Selling Self Storage Centers: A Real Estate Attorney’s Perspective,” by Joseph D. Ort of The Ort Law Firm. Another session titled “The Importance of Cybersecurity: Don't be the Next Equifax,” will be presented by Rick Allen, director of PCI Compliance for OpenEdge; Lois Brown, new-business manager for Space Control Systems Inc.; and Dale Taylor, solutions architect for RackSpace.

Registration information is available on the FSSA website.

The FSSA works to ensure the stability and growth of the Florida self-storage industry. It provides a forum through which members can increase knowledge, exchange information, and promote an established, unified voice, according to officials.

Source:
PR Newswire, Florida Self Storage Association Announces the FSSA Information Highway

 

 

U.S. Storage Depot, which operates 37 facilities in Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin, is converting a former JCPenney department store in Oshkosh, Wis., to a mixed-use property that will include self-storage and office space. The Oshkosh Common Council was scheduled to vote this week on the operator’s application for a conditional-use permit. If approved, it’ll be the company’s third location in the state, according to the source.

The property at 2175-2185 S. Koeller St. in Aviation Plaza has been vacant since the store closed in April 2015. The storage operator plans to add 370 climate-controlled units to the 62,000-square-foot building, according to CEO Ronald Hagen.

“Self-storage, as a whole, is a type of business that is community-friendly,” Hagen said. “We’re community-friendly because we don’t create any noise. We don’t create a lot of traffic. Once the place is open, you might have 15 to 20 people maximum a day.”

Of U.S. Storage Depot’s properties, 19 were conversions of vacant buildings, the source reported. The company is based in Titusville, Fla.

Source:
Oshkosh Northwestern, Streetwise: Storage Units Slated to Replace Vacant J.C. Penney store on South Koeller

 

 

A large American flag flying at the new Storage of America (SOA) headquarters in Anderson, Ind., has caused concern among students and faculty at nearby Anderson University (AU). Complaints have been made that the flag’s size could block views of a campus landmark and cause noise, according to the source.

SOA, which operates seven self-storage facilities in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, moved its corporate headquarters into the former Warner Press building at 1201 E. 5th St. last month. The company plans to add 50,000 square feet of self-storage, a retail store and rentable work space to its corporate offices.

Shortly after the flagpole was erected, complaints arose that it would obstruct views of Park Place Church of God, a sanctuary and AU landmark. Others said the sound coming from the flag on windy days is “overpowering and distracting,” the source reported.

AU administrators discussed the concerns and determined the flag wasn’t causing any significant problems on campus. “I do have to represent the views of campus,” AU President John Pistole said. “However, in the end, it is [SOA’s] property and their call. They checked with the city to ensure they were meeting regulations. As long as the flag is not a nuisance, it can stay.”

Pistole also spoke with SOA’s executive vice president. “They are wanting to be good partners with us,” he said. “They eventually want to have a retail store on the ground floor of that building and want to hire students to work part-time in the store.”

Although the flag is getting mixed reviews, it hasn’t had a significant impact on initial impressions from prospective students, according to Amanda Huber, visit coordinator in the AU Office of Admissions. “But our cruisers, who walk the families and new students around campus, haven’t heard any comments. It hasn’t made a lot of negative impact.”

Michael Weigel, a senior and president of the AU College Democrats, said the group supports the demonstration but expressed concerns about its safety. “We like and support the American flag in the general sense, but are also curious as to what might happen if this specific large flag is flown at half-mast,” he said.

AU College Republicans posted a photo of the flag on Instagram and Twitter with a caption that encouraged student to call SOA and “express gratitude.” “The AU College Republicans are proud to support the decision of Storage of America to install the large American flag on their new property. We believe the American flag is an important symbol,” said club president Josh Senft.

Because of its size, the flag won’t be taken down each day, but instead illuminated at night. All SOA locations fly an American flag, with some even larger than the one at the Anderson location, the source reported.

Founded in 2003 and currently based in Indianapolis, SOA has 10 self-storage locations under development, according to its website. It uses a vertical-integration model, in which 12 wholly owned subsidiaries perform most of the design, planning and construction on its projects.

Source:
The Andersonian, Installation of Large American Flag Causes Campus Controversy

 

 

U.K. company Lok'nStore Group PLC, which provides self-storage and records-storage services, released pre-close financial results for the first half of its 2018 fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31. Same-store self-storage revenue increased 6.9 percent year over year, with January “delivering the highest-ever-level of new storage inquiries in a single month,” the release stated. Same-store occupancy was up 6 percent for the period, while average price per square foot increased .4 percent compared to the same period last year.

During the six months, Lok’nStore opened a facility in Gillingham, England, and acquired a property in Dorset, England. A new location is scheduled to open in Wellingborough, England, in March. The company has five other projects in its development pipeline that are expected to be complete by July 31, 2019.

"Trading at our new landmark stores in Broadstairs, Bristol, Hemel Hempstead and early trading at our Gillingham store has been excellent,” said CEO Andrew Jacobs. “This underpins our confidence that our strong pipeline of six more landmark stores will add further momentum to sales and earnings growth. All six stores are in prominent locations with large catchment areas that demonstrate the company's ability to source high-quality sites, adding to future sales and earnings growth.”

Founded in 1995, Lok’nStore builds, buys or leases large warehouses or industrial buildings and rents storage units to customers on a weekly basis. It operates 25 self-storage facilities and two records-storage locations in Southern England. The self-storage portfolio is comprised of 12 freehold or long-leasehold properties, seven leasehold sites and six locations under management.

Sources:
Investegate, Pre-Close Trading Update
Interactive Investor, Lok'n Store Makes Progress With Pipeline Within Strong First Half

Self-storage attorney Scott I. Zucker has authored his second legal thriller titled “Rally on Two.” The novel centers on Hank Bennett, a lawyer whose family life is torn apart by a devastating accident. Struggling to cope with his loss while also handling a pro bono criminal case and a whistleblower case, Hank is asked to coach a youth baseball team, which offers a chance for perspective and recovery, according to a press release.

The legal cases could have parallels to Hank’s life. In the pro bono case, he fights to prove the innocence of a young boy, while the whistleblower case could provide details to explain a family’s untimely death, the release stated. Coaching baseball is intended to be a metaphor for the protagonist’s life, the release stated.

“Writing fiction has always been a passion for me,” Zucker said. “After receiving such positive feedback about my first book, ‘Chain of Custody,’ I thought I would take a shot at developing another character and another story line. This book was a lot of fun to write, especially the part about the little league team. Baseball has always been one of my favorite sports. It exemplifies for me the message that trying something and striking out is not a bad thing; it’s just part of the game, part of living life. I hope people enjoy the story and the characters.”

The book is available in paperback and as a digital e-book. It can be purchased online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Zucker is a partner in the law firm Weissmann Zucker Euster Morochnik P.C. in Atlanta, which specializes in business litigation with an emphasis on real estate, landlord-tenant and construction law. He’s also a partner in the Self-Storage Legal Network, a subscription-based legal service for storage owners and managers. A frequent speaker at self-storage industry events, he’ll be presenting the Advanced Legal Workshop at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, April 3-6, in Las Vegas.

The Argus Self Storage Sales Network, a Denver-based group of real estate brokers specializing in self-storage properties, has named its top producer for 2017. Jeff Gorden, a broker affiliate for Arizona and the vice president of Eagle Commercial Realty Services, secured the ranking with back-to-back sales during the third week of December, according to a press release.

It’s the first time Gorden has received the award. He brokered more than $23 million in sales in secondary markets in Arizona last year. He also had several notable transactions, including a $17.5 million deal, which set a sales record for a single property in the state, the release stated.

“We’ve been really happy that our system that works so well in Phoenix, and Tucson also serves small market owners well,” said Gorden, who’s also a storage owner and serves on the board of directors for the Arizona Self Storage Association.

Other notable deals by Gorden included the sale of A Secured RV & Vehicle Storage in Gilbert, Ariz., for $5.8 million in a 1031 exchange. The infill, 11-acre parcel was built in 1999, and had undergone recent capital and operational improvements. Gorden also represented the seller of AA Val-U-Stor, the largest storage property in Yuma, Ariz. “We were very happy to sell a property in such great condition with such pride of ownership. Yuma is a great community with a bustling economy,” he said.

Gorden credits his teams for the successful year of sales. “We could not have accomplished this without the help of our Argus partners and our Phoenix-based team,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to win this award, especially in a smaller market such as Arizona where asset prices are typically much lower than on the East and West Coasts. We do feel more pressure going into 2018 to match our 2017 performance.”

Formed in 1994, Argus has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

Founded in 1996 and based in Phoenix, Eagle Commercial specializes in brokerage and commercial-property management in Arizona.

Update 2/12/18 – The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously last week to recommend the changes to the zoning ordinance that would allow the conversion of vacant commercial space to self-storage. “It’s a great opportunity to improve some areas in our city,” Atherton reiterated during the meeting.

Principal planner Dan Olson indicated the city council is scheduled to discuss the zoning change in March.

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1/22/18 – DeKalb, Ill., planners and residents appear to favor amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance that would create uses and definitions for indoor and outdoor self-storage projects. The plan was proposed by real estate developer Jim Mason, who wants to convert two empty commercial buildings he owns to self-storage. The changes would add indoor-storage facilities as a special use in light-commercial and general-commercial districts, which would enable Mason to pursue his projects, according to the source.

Mason owns a vacant furniture store at 1500 Sycamore Road with a footprint of 10,000 square feet. His second property, a former grocery store at 1401 S. Fourth St., has a 21,500-square-foot footprint.

Christina Atherton, chair of the planning and zoning commission, commended Mason for his creativity during a public hearing last week. Members of the public who spoke during the hearing also supported the amendment proposal. “Hopefully, this will stimulate other ideas on how we can continue to create more opportunities for people and businesses,” said William Heinisch, a member of the DeKalb Area Rental Association.

Mason told commissioners that an exodus of 115,000 people per year in Illinois has created demand for self-storage in the area.

The commission will continue the public-hearing process for the amendment on Feb. 7.

Sources:
Daily Chronicle, DeKalb Planning and Zoning Commission Votes to Send Storage Facility Plan to City Council

Daily Chronicle, DeKalb Storage Facilities Plan Gets Favorable Reaction From Planning and Zoning Commission

Update 2/12/18 – The East Rutherford Planning Board voted 2-5 last week against the latest self-storage plan from HPVIII 33 Route 17. The denial came despite the developer agreeing to lower the height of the structure to more than 1.5 feet below the height-variance requirement and alter traffic flow. He also guaranteed that rooftop equipment would comprise less than 5 percent of the area and be screened, according to the source.

Residents and nearby businesses continued to strongly oppose the project, with some bringing attorneys to the meeting to make arguments against the plan. Though some cited potential for increased traffic and safety issues for high school students nearby, some argued the building should move closer to Route 17 to mitigate problems, the source reported.

Attorney Robert Inglima, representing a neighboring gas station, told planners the revised plan was too similar to the one the board had already rejected. “You would be trading one type of litigation for another,” he said. “It’s a joke. They have to put more before you. They’ve had two tries now. It’s not even a Plan B; it’s a Plan 1A.”

Attorney Tom Bruinooge, representing the developer, argued that traffic wouldn’t be an issue under the proposed plan. He also reminded planners that their votes should be a “fair application of the law,” according to the source.

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12/1/17 – Hampshire Cos. affiliate HPVIII 33 Route 17 LLC has submitted a revised application to develop self-storage on the Landmark Catering building site. The new plan calls for a four-story structure with a footprint of 24,650 square feet and 17 parking spaces. Variances are needed for conditional use, fence height, loading space and signage, according to the source.

The East Rutherford Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled to review the new plan on Dec. 7. HPVIII won an appeal after the zoning board denied its variance application in March, the source reported. The developer filed a complaint in court but submitted a revised plan after reaching a settlement with the borough.

The original mixed-use plan included a five-story self-storage facility. In February, HPVIII indicated it decided not to convert the former catering building and demolished structures at the site, according to borough documents.

The revised application comes just as East Rutherford officials have proposed new zoning regulations that would make self-storage an allowed conditional use in the borough’s I Light Industrial District. However, the Landmark site is in the Regional Commercial Zone.

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4/14/16 – The Hampshire Cos., a real estate investment firm and self-storage operator, has purchased a 3.2-acre property in East Rutherford, N.J., on which it plans to build a 100,000-square-foot self-storage facility as well as a convenience store and gas station. The property at 33 Route 17 S. is currently home to a former catering hall and industrial building. It’s not known whether the existing structures will be demolished or used in the conversion, according to a source.

Known as “The Landmark,” the 225,000-square-foot, three-room catering facility was built in 1976. It closed in 2013 after parent company Markland Inc. filed for bankruptcy liquidation. The site was host to “Sweet 16” parties, political fundraisers, weddings and other events for nearly four decades. The accompanying industrial building is 55,000 square feet.

Prior to the sale, environmental and zoning issues had to be resolved, according to NAI James E. Hanson, the commercial real estate firm that brokered the deal. There were also some existing tenant and lender problems.

“We were able to see the vision for this site and were able to identify a buyer for this mostly vacant property who could bring higher ratables to the Borough of East Rutherford,” said Andrew Somple, senior vice president for NAI James. “The excellent location of the property in terms of accessibility and proximity to the American Dream [Meadowlands] and [Meadowlands] Sports Complex made this an interesting opportunity for the right developer. Through our marketing efforts, we were able to identify the top developers in the state who would share our vision of redeveloping the property and be most qualified to get this deal done.”

The location fits with Hampshire Cos. portfolio and investment strategy, according to Todd Anderson, principal for Hampshire. “We take pride in seeing real estate through a different lens, and we believe that once our vision for this property is fully developed, we will have provided value for our investors and the community.”

Somple and Greg James, director of capital markets for of NAI James, represented the seller.

Based in Morristown, N.J., The Hampshire Cos. is a privately held, fully integrated real estate firm. Its diversified portfolio of 259 properties in 28 states totals more than 25 million square feet.

Sources:
NorthJersey.com, Self-Storage Facility Again Stymied for Former Landmark Site Off Route 17

East Rutherford, N.J., Borough of East Rutherford Zoning Board of Adjustment Special Meeting Minutes February 16, 2017

NorthJersey.com, Landmark Banquet Hall Site in East Rutherford Sold

NJBiz.com, NAI Hanson arranges sale of industrial property in East Rutherford to The Hampshire Companies

NorthJersey.com, East Rutherford Updates Self-Storage Code, Hearing New Proposal for Route 17 Site